Perspectives, Education, and Engagement

Table of Contents
Campus Partners

Welcome

A group of interested faculty, staff, and students met over the course of several months to discuss how Bates might provide educational opportunities to understand recent events involving Israel and Palestine. Each person brought a unique personal experience and/or disciplinary approach, but all shared a common commitment to intellectual and humanistic inquiry, and a common hope for community dialogue across differences. The result is a series that includes talks by scholars who examine the people, history, and politics of the region, films, and a musical performance that explores the lived experiences of those most affected, and opportunities for sustained, facilitated dialogue for interested students.

The goal is to consider a range of perspectives, questions, and disciplinary approaches, engage in a humanistic study of the effects of conflict and hopes for peace, and explore dialogue models that might serve as sustainable and respectful examples of how to maintain ongoing engagement on a range of topics.

This collaborative series of films, music, and talks is sponsored by the Offices of the Dean of the Faculty, Equity and Inclusion, and Student Affairs. Students can also register to participate in small, facilitated community dialogue circles sponsored by the Multifaith Chaplaincy. The sponsors express a very special thanks to the many individual faculty, staff and students that came together over the course of several months to share ideas, concerns, and hopes for educational programming and dialogue. This would not have been possible without your thoughtful contributions and commitment to the Bates mission and community.

Tickets and Registration

  • These events are open to current Bates students, staff, and faculty.
  • Registration is required for all events.
  • Please bring your registration with you to the door. If registration exceeds capacity, we will designate an overflow area where community members can view the event.
  • Students interested in Community Dialogues must sign up to participate below.

Schedule of Events

Please note that registration is required for each event. Additional events may be added at a later date.

February 14

Israel and Palestine 101: Historical Fundamentals
Speaker: Wendy Pearlman
4:15 p.m., Schaeffer Theatre
Eventbrite Registration

February 27

Film and Talkback: 5 Broken Cameras
Facilitator: Christine Martinez
6:30 p.m., Olin 104
Eventbrite Registration

March 7

Teach Me to Play 1948
Artists: Qais Assali and Or Zubalsky
Teach Me to Play 1948 is a live musical co-performance in which artists Qais Assali and Or Zubalski learn John Cage’s “Dream,” composed in 1948. The performance stretches the score beyond its original signification to a larger political history of the year it was composed. The performance will be followed by a talkback moderated by Assistant Professor of Music, Asha Tamirisa. 

Before the performance, two video installations, “Parade” (Qais Assali) and “Merge Conflicts” (Or Zubalsky) will be on view in Coram Library, across the quad from Gomes Chapel. Here is a campus map. If you’d like to view the video installations before attending the performance, it is recommended that you arrive at 6:15-6:30 at Coram to spend some time with the video installations before going to Gomes Chapel for the 7pm performance.” 

7 p.m., Gomes Chapel
Eventbrite Registration

March 11

The Political Dynamics of the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict
Speaker: Nadav Shelef
4:15 p.m., Keck Classroom
Eventbrite Registration

March 27

Understanding Gaza: Tracing Violence and Reconciliation in Palestine/Israel
Speaker: Sa’ed Atshan
4:15 p.m., Schaeffer Theatre
Eventbrite Registration

POSTPONED until Fall Semester – April 3

Film and talkback: Tantura
Facilitators: Stephanie Pridgeon and Phyllis Graber Jensen
6:30 p.m., Keck Classroom
Eventbrite Registration

POSTPONED until Fall Semester – April 11

Film and talkback: 200 Meters
Facilitator: Nasser Abourahme
6:30 p.m., Olin Arts Center
Eventbrite Registration

POSTPONED until Fall Semester – May 13

Film and talkback: The Boy
Facilitators: Stephanie Pridgeon and Phyllis Graber Jensen
6:30 p.m., Olin 104
Eventbrite Registration

Featured Speakers

  • Wendy Pearlman
    • Professor at Northwestern University | Crown Professor of Middle East Studies | Interim Director, Middle East and North Africa Studies Program
  • Nadav Shelef
    • Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison | Comparative Politics | International Relations
  • Sa’ed Atshan
    • Associate Professor at Swarthmore College | Department Chair, Peace and Conflict Studies

Community Dialogue Circles

The Multifaith Chaplaincy is working with local Maine experts who have extensive experience in facilitating Israel-Palestine specific dialogue work as well as generalized training in difficult dialogues. These experts will train student and faculty/staff co-facilitated groups and will create community dialogue circles throughout the semester. Students may sign up to participate here by Feb. 21.